Over 220 visas issued to Indian pilgrims to visit temple in Sukkur

NEW DEHLI: The Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi announced  Wednesday to have issued visas to more than 220 Hindu pilgrims from India to participate in the 310th birthday celebrations of Shiv Avtari Satguru Sant Shadaram Sahib, at Sukkur.

According to a statement released by the commission,”The issuance of pilgrimage visas is in line with the Government of Pakistan’s efforts for promoting visits to religious shrines and people-to-people exchanges.”

The visas have been issued to Indian pilgrim, from December 5 to 16, under the framework of the Pakistan-India Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines of 1974, a large number of Sikh and Hindu pilgrims from India visit Pakistan to observe various religious festivals every year.

“The move also reflects the commitment of the Government of Pakistan to faithfully implement the bilateral Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines,” the statement added.

Shadani Darbar Tirth, a 300-year old temple, is a sacred place for devotees from across the world. The Foundation of Shadani Darbar was laid at Hayat Pitafi Tehsil, Mirpur Mathelo, Ghotki district in 1786 by Sant Shadaram Sahib, who was born in Lahore in 1708.

Recently, on 30 November, more than 3800 Sikh pilgrims returned to India from Pakistan after participating in the 549th birth anniversary celebrations of Baba Guru Nanak Dev Ji and the ground-breaking ceremony for the “Kartarpur Corridor” on the Pakistan side of the International Border.

Pak issues visas to Indian Pilgrims for visit to Hindu Temple (Shadani Darbar) in Sukkur. Over 220 Hindu pilgrims from India to participate in the 310th Bday celebrations of Shiv Avtari Satguru Sant Shadaram Sang at Sukkur, from 5-16 December 2018.https://t.co/PFmRtrmSEB pic.twitter.com/e8vvWpDnbE

— Pakistan High Commission India (@PakinIndia) December 5, 2018

Time and again, Pakistan has showed its goodwill and commitment to preserve sacred religious places and facilitating the visiting pilgrims of all faiths.